HOPE SEES!

Hope sees by faith according to the Word of God. It does not see by sight or by an experience of the senses, but it perceives as real fact according to the Word. The Word is a seed of possibility that we plant in our hearts. It provides the proof needed upon which we hope. It is a seed of purpose, sent from God, to paint a picture of reality that is obtained by faith. Hope is generated by believing the Word. (Hebrews 11:1; Isaiah 55:11; 2Corinthians 5:7; Luke 8:11)

Hope sets itself on things above, not circumstances of this earth or emotions and thoughts that may try to derail us from hope. Hope is an anchor that keeps us steadfast and well-balanced on the Word of God (Hebrews 6:19).

Even natural seeds paint a picture of hope and expectation. For example, if you are purchasing wildflower seeds for your garden, the package does not show an example of the seed, but the result of what will occur once the seeds are planted. Our imaginations are stimulated to see the result of the planted seed. We keep that vision before us with expectation, waiting and watching for what we anticipate. We have a hopeful image in our mind of what we expect.

The Word of God is a seed that we hear. The woman with the bleeding problem heard about Jesus and planted what she heard in her heart. How do we know that? Because she spoke it (Luke 6:45). “For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health” (Mark 5:28). She confirmed what she knew by hope according to the picture that hope had created. Hope had painted an image based on what the woman heard about Jesus. The seed of the word she heard caused her imagination to come alive. This picture and her expectation drove her to action to pursue Jesus and receive what she had seen by hope. This woman spoke hope and took action based on hope.

“If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it” (Romans 8:24). “But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently” (Romans 8:25) as the Word of God has confirmed what we are hoping for. What we hope for is based on the truth of the Word and our believing what it says. To be hopeful requires us to wait in confident expectation upon the promises of God and allow the waiting time to elaborate the picture of hope. Like a pregnant woman, the seed of life planted in her womb is unseen, but she is hopeful, imagining and preparing for the life that will come. In expectation, the seed of hope grows.  Waiting means that we stimulate hope through intimacy with the Lord and His Word. We become pregnant with expectation! We perceive as real fact the picture that is being created in our imagination according to the Word of God.  

Shifting to the circumstances that are revealed to our senses will cause us to judge wrongly. We may think that God has abandoned us or that our prayers have failed to be answered. God instructs us not to rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). He is asking us to see by faith and maintain hope in accordance with what He has established through His Word. Hope is based on His promises. See prayers that were prayed according to His Word as your answer. This is hope based on the promises of God!

Here is another example of a hopeful vision. When you are sick and pray to participate in the healing that was established by the stripes of Jesus Christ, do you continue to see yourself sick, or do you see yourself from the perspective of hope? Do you see yourself restored and active because the Word has painted a picture of hope that you cling to? Let God’s Word become firmly planted until an image develops. Water it with praise as you believe and give glory to God, knowing that He is mighty and able to keep His Word and do what He promised (Romans 4:21)

What promise seed has the Lord spoken to you? Have you planted this seed in your heart and tended to it? Have you watered it with praise because you believe what God said? There is a seed of hope for every circumstance, a seed to be planted, and an image of what that seed was created for to develop in your life. Ask God to help you grab hold of the picture He is painting. Out with the old thinking and distorted views that don’t line up with His Word, and in with the new according to the Word of God. Let Him create a new picture of hope for you. Encourage yourself in the Lord; “Why are you cast down, O my soul? …Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him…” (Psalm 42:11 Amplified).

God’s Word is filled with promises for every aspect and challenge of your life. Take the seed of the Word, plant it, and don’t dig it up. Hear the Word, speak the Word, and with expectation allow a Word-inspired picture to come into focus. The Holy Spirit is our Helper during this process. Remember, each Word has a purpose, and it will fulfill the purpose for which it was sent (Isaiah 55:11).